"Queen of the Castle"

Lauren, "the Duchess of Newport", rules her little kingdom here. Lorraine and I run around like servants in her royal court - mommy, a lady-in-waiting and me, the court jester, perhaps. Everyone and everything revolves around this little six-and-a-half week old and she definitely is very much the "Queen of the castle". Nevertheless, each day has been an adventure of regal proportions.

Some current 4-1-1:

About a week ago, Lauren began sleeping 5-6 hours through the night. We still get up around 4 or 5am but it's better than getting up at 2 AND 5am. We hope, perhaps naively, that this continues. Fingers crossed.

Lauren weighted 7 lbs, 3 oz at birth, 8 lbs, 6 oz at two weeks, and we now figure that she must be at least 10 lbs. We'll find out at her 2 month doc visit.

She eats 4 1/2 oz of milk every 3 hours except when sleeping through the night. It's amazing (and scary) to see how something so small consumes so much liquid (a can of soda is 12 oz).

Her eyes are still blue and hair still light brown and in place. Apparently, her eyes may change to brown and hair fall out and grow back in darker. We'll see.

OK, some new pictures taken recently:

Lauren likes to fall asleep on our chests. It's such a wonderful experience as you feel her taking in and letting out her little breaths...



In an outfit that my co-workers gave her (this crying picture is for Kerri)...



To Grandmother's house we go... (she gave quite a show for her grandmother and aunt this past weekend)...









Last week, Lauren suddenly started sucking on hand and thumb (video to follow shortly)...



Her aunt Sarah popped in for a visit on Tue from North Carolina (Lauren slept the whole 4 hours she was here)...



Lauren's series of "what the hell is going on here" faces when she gets burped...